All the players and supporters of Hanada High School gradually sensed that something was wrong.
At first, after the opening two pitches, they were still full of excitement.
But now—
A chill crept into their hearts.
"How can that short guy be this troublesome?"
They couldn't understand it.
Yet deep down, they already knew the answer.
The opponent standing before them was Seido High School, the team that had dominated the nation last year.
Anyone who could wear Seido's white-and-blue uniform and stand on this field was no ordinary player.
Kominato Ryosuke was short.
For most people, that alone would be an undeniable weakness.
And yet, Seido had still entrusted him with the Second Batter role.
What did that mean?
It meant Kominato Ryosuke possessed something Seido could not afford to lose.
"We were too naïve…"
The Hanada players finally realized the truth.
But realization came too late.
Their Ace, standing on the pitcher's mound, was already trapped.
"What should I do…?"
Kominato clung to him like an unshakable shadow.
Fastball? Foul.
Breaking ball? Foul.
Anything near the zone—foul again.
"Should I throw a ball…?"
The thought surfaced for just a moment—
And the Hanada Ace acted on it.
If he could lure Kominato into swinging at a bad pitch, maybe—just maybe—there was still hope.
The ball left his hand.
This time, Kominato didn't move.
He simply watched the baseball sail past.
"Pop!"
"Ball!"
Once the door cracked open, it refused to close.
"Ball!"
"Foul!"
"Ball!!"
"Four balls—walk!"
No outs.
Runners on first and second.
The game had barely begun, yet Hanada was already pushed into a corner.
In the stands, Seido's supporters watched with satisfied smiles.
What they cared about most wasn't this game's result—it was Seido's current offensive strength.
Back in the autumn tournament, Kuramochi and Kominato had struggled.
Against strong opponents, their performance had been… underwhelming.
But now—
"This lineup is so much smoother."
"The opponent isn't weak, yet they still got on base consecutively."
"This is nothing like before."
"They only had a few days to integrate during the fall. Now they've had half a year."
"We're still the strongest."
"The nation's top seed!"
The dugout buzzed with excitement.
Throughout the long winter, Seido had trained relentlessly.
After standing at the summit last year, no one wanted to fall back into mediocrity.
They didn't want a single championship.
They wanted an era.
Continuous domination.
A Seido that ruled Koshien.
If they succeeded, even role players would have futures unlike ordinary high school athletes—professional drafts, elite universities, recognition everywhere.
And then—
The third batter stepped forward.
"Third Batter, Number 1—Pitcher, Zhou Hao!"
The stadium exploded.
"Zhou Hao!!"
"He's so handsome today!"
"I'm your girlfriend you haven't met yet! Zhou Hao—let's get bubble tea after the game!"
A sharp glare shot toward the voice.
The girl who shouted stood tall, unfazed, even lifting her chin defiantly.
It was a blatant declaration of sovereignty.
"That shameless girl!"
"Where did she crawl out from?!"
The first-year Seido players heard everything.
Their conclusion was immediate.
Girls were terrifying.
Especially territorial ones.
On second base, Kuramochi Yoichi's face darkened.
He was Zhou Hao's best friend.
They were both second-years.
He played well too.
So why… why was the difference this huge?!
"After the game," Kuramochi muttered, "I'm talking to this guy."
On the mound, Hanada's Ace felt the change instantly.
The moment Zhou Hao entered the batter's box, the entire stadium tilted toward him.
As if everyone believed—
This hit was inevitable.
He gripped the ball harder.
Even knowing the difference in strength, he refused to run.
Walking Zhou Hao wouldn't save them.
Avoiding the confrontation would only delay the inevitable.
"I won't dodge it."
"Even if I have to grind my teeth—I'll face him head-on!"
Flames burned in his eyes.
Zhou Hao noticed the shift and blinked in mild confusion.
What suddenly lit this guy up?
They hadn't even clashed yet.
In Seido's dugout, murmurs rose.
"What's he planning?"
Chris, still in rehab, smiled calmly.
"Whatever it is, Zhou Hao will stop it."
No one disagreed.
Against Zhou Hao, tricks only prolonged the outcome.
If there was no hidden weapon—
The showdown would end quickly.
"We're scoring here."
The Hanada Ace threw the first pitch.
"Whoosh!"
The ball carried tailing spin, cutting through the air.
Zhou Hao felt… disappointed.
Speed—average.
Movement—average.
Angle—average.
Even without activating his Sharingan, he knew he could hit it.
Still, he restrained himself.
"Pop!"
"Strike!"
The stadium held its breath.
A strike against Zhou Hao.
No cheers erupted—but excitement simmered beneath the surface.
This alone was an achievement.
"Keep it up."
"One more strike!"
Encouragement echoed silently.
The Ace inhaled deeply.
"Inside this time."
Different angle.
Different look.
He wound up and fired.
"Whoosh!"
Outside first.
Inside second.
A solid sequence.
Even Seido's dugout raised their brows.
This pitcher was stronger than expected.
Most players shrank against Zhou Hao.
This one grew fiercer.
But—
Before Zhou Hao's Three-Tomoe Sharingan, it meant nothing.
The pitch slowed.
The trajectory unraveled.
To Zhou Hao, it was no different from a straight ball down the middle.
He didn't adjust.
Didn't hesitate.
He swung.
"Buzz!"
The catcher's heart clenched.
"Oh no—"
The bat met the ball squarely.
"Ping!!"
A clean, merciless sound.
The Ace's eyes widened in disbelief.
The ball soared.
A perfect arc under countless gazes.
Then—
It vanished into the right-field stands.
"BOOM!"
"HOME RUN!!!"
"Three-run home run by Zhou Hao!!!"
Less than ten minutes into the game—
Seido led 3–0.
All of Hanada's resolve shattered instantly.
Three runs felt like three blades buried deep into their hearts.
There was no comeback.
They might not even last nine innings.
"Zhou Hao! Zhou Hao!!!"
The cheers shook Akita Stadium.
He was the undisputed protagonist.
No outs.
Bases empty.
And now—
It was time for Seido's Fourth Batter.